EEC-208: POWER SYSTEMS-I

EEN-660 HIGH VOLTAGE TECHNIQUE

OVERHEAD LINE INSULATORS

Prepared by:
Dr. Asha Sharma
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Overhead Line Insulators

Introduction
• Insulators are essential components in overhead power transmission lines.

• Their primary function is to support and electrically isolate conductors from transmission towers.

• They must withstand mechanical loads, environmental stresses, and high voltages.

• Electrical Isolation: Prevent current leakage to supporting structures.

• Mechanical Support: Hold the conductor in place.

• Environmental Resistance: Withstand weather conditions such as rain, dust, and pollution.

• Prevent Flashovers: Minimize surface discharges and breakdown.

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Overhead Line Insulators: Types

• Pin Insulators – Used for low and medium voltage lines.

• Suspension Insulators – Used for high-voltage transmission

lines.

• Strain Insulators – Used at dead-end poles for mechanical

strength.

• Shackle Insulators – Used for distribution lines.

• Post Insulators – Used in substations and distribution poles

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Overhead Line Insulators

Insulator Materials
• Porcelain – High mechanical strength, brittle, used in traditional designs.

• Glass – High dielectric strength, shatter-resistant, better performance under pollution.

• Polymer/Composite – Lightweight, flexible, resistant to vandalism and pollution.

• Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) – Advanced materials for optimized electric stress distribution.

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Overhead Line Insulators

Electrical Performance of Insulators

• Dielectric Strength – Ability to withstand high voltages.

• Leakage Current – Should be minimized to avoid energy losses.

• Flashover Voltage – Voltage at which breakdown occurs along the insulator surface.

• Partial Discharges – Indicate insulation degradation and aging.

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Overhead Line Insulators

Design Considerations for Overhead Line Insulators

• Voltage Rating: Determines the number of insulator units.

• Creepage Distance: Prevents surface flashovers due to pollution.

• Mechanical Strength: Must withstand conductor weight and wind load.

• Environmental Conditions: UV resistance, hydrophobic properties for better performance.

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Overhead Line Insulators

Challenges in Overhead Line Insulators

• Pollution and Contamination – Leads to flashovers.

• Aging and Weathering – Causes mechanical and electrical degradation.

• Vandalism and Mechanical Damage – More common in traditional materials.

• Non-Uniform Electric Field Distribution – Leads to early failures.

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Overhead Line Insulators

Potential Distribution over Suspension Insulator String

The porcelain portion of each disc is in
between two metal links. Therefore,
each disc forms a capacitor C as shown
in Fig (ii). This is known as mutual
capacitance or self-capacitance.

If there were mutual capacitance alone,

then charging current would have been
the same through all the discs and
consequently voltage across each unit
would have been the same i.e., V/3 as
shown in Fig. (ii).
However, in actual practice,
capacitance also exists between metal
fitting of each disc and tower or earth.
This is known as shunt capacitance C1.

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Overhead Line Insulators

Potential Distribution over Suspension Insulator String

Fig. shows the equivalent circuit for a 3-disc string.

Applying Kirchhoff’s current law to node A,

Applying Kirchhoff’s current law to node B,

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Potential Distribution over Suspension Insulator String

Voltage between conductor and earth (i.e., tower) is

Voltage across top unit,

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Overhead Line Insulators

Methods of Improving String Efficiency

• By using longer cross-arms

• By grading the insulators

• By using a guard ring (The potential across each unit in a string can
be equalised by using a guard ring which is a metal ring electrically
connected to the conductor and surrounding the bottom insulator

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Overhead Line Insulators

Problem

• In a 33 kV overhead line, there are three units in the string of insulators. If the capacitance between each
insulator pin and earth is 11% of self-capacitance of each insulator, find (i) the distribution of voltage over 3
insulators and (ii) string efficiency.

• Each line of a 3-phase system is suspended by a string of 3 similar insulators. If the voltage across the line unit
is 17·5 kV, calculate the line to neutral voltage. Assume that the shunt capacitance between each insulator and
earth is 1/8th of the capacitance of the insulator itself. Also find the string efficiency.

• The self capacitance of each unit in a string of three suspension insulators is C. The shunting capacitance of
the connecting metal work of each insulator to earth is 0·15 C while for line it is 0·1 C. Calculate (i) the
voltage across each insulator as a percentage of the line voltage to earth and (ii) string efficiency.

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 Thank You
Email: [email protected]

Website page: https://iitr.ac.in/~ee/asha_sharma

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asha-sharma-ph-d-iitk-7366b0114/

Office: 214B, EED, IITR

+91-1332-285636

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